South Korea, Japan leaders to seek early resolution of 'comfort women' dispute

South Korean President Park Geun-hye looks at Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) while speaking during a news conference after trilateral summit at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, November 1, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on Monday to try to resolve as soon as possible a row over "comfort women" forced into prostitution in Japanese wartime military brothels, a feud that has been a major obstacle to better ties between two of Washington's key allies.

Abe announced the agreement after the first formal talks between the two leaders since both took office, as they seek to move beyond a bitter wartime history that has haunted relations.